Self-propelled vehicles with implement attachment devices

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle for agricultural and industrial purposes and having a frame formed of two longitudinal beams and a driving motor arranged between the longitudinal beams without projecting upwardly beyond the plane formed by the upper surface of the longitudinal beams. All other driving and transmission means except the control means are likewise located below said plane so that the longitudinal beams are free for attachment of working tools or a loading platform at both ends and sides. Additional longitudinal beams of smaller dimensions may be tiltably mounted on said longitudinal beams and provided on their underside with teeth to permit the attachment of the working tools. The main longitudinal beams may be provided with telescopic extensions to provide further possibilities for attachment of working tools.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Isacco Del Bagno Via Domenico delBagnoll, Polla, Salerno, Italy [21] Appl. No 738,950

[22] Filed June 21, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [3 2] Priority July3, 1967 [3 3 Italy 54] SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES WITH IMPLEMENT ATTACHMENTDEVICES 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 180/1, 180/42, 180/53, 180/55, 180/77, 180/89, 280/34 [51]Int. Cl ..B60kl7/28, B62d 49/06 [50] Field ofSearch l80/1.5,55, 53, 53(PE) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,796,140 6/1957 Knolle180/1(.5 )X

18 17 15 q I (I r 22 15 1219 21 3 11 ii 1 Z A 2,888,088 5/1959 Claas etal. 180/55 FOREIGN PATENTS 881,002 6/1953 Germany 180/53(FE) 929,3976/1955 Germany..... 180/1(.5)

1,041,166 10/1953 France l80/1(.5)

Primary ExaminerA. Harry Levy Attorney-lecies and Greenside tiltablymounted on said longitudinal beams and provided on their underside withteeth to permit the attachment of the working tools. The mainlongitudinal beams may be provided with telescopic extensions to providefurther possibilities for attachment of working tools.

PATENTEU m1 6 {an SHEET 1 OF 3 PATENTED NARI 6 l97l SHEET 2 OF 3PATENTEUMARIGIBYI I I 3570.614

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INVENTUR.

ISACCO DEL BAGNO This invention relates to a self-propelledtool-carrying vehicle especially for agricultural and industrialpurposes and comprising a frame formed of two longitudinal beams and adriving motor arranged between the. longitudinal beams withoutprojecting upwardly beyond the plane formed by the upper surface of thelongitudinal beams.

The two longitudinal beams may be carried by a differential axleassembly on fixed or halftrack pulling and steering wheels. The drivingmotor and a gearbox may be arranged adjacent the differential axleassembly. At their other ends the longitudinal beams may be carried byanother axle assembly on steering wheels, free wheels or pulling wheelsaccording to the particular application of the vehicle which latter mayhave two or four driving wheels.

The novel vehicle differs from the arrangement in conventional vehiclesof this type in that all the above-mentioned members are arranged belowthe level of the upper surface of the longitudinal beams so as to permitfree application of all sorts of working tools and their single ormultiple, simultaneous or progressive use in numbers which hitherto havenot been possible on similar vehicles.

The conventional motor-driven vehicles and machines, tractors,agricultural cultivating machines, agricultural and industrialtool-carriers and the like do not have the ends and the sides nor thelower central frame portion free for mounting the working tools. Noteven the entire upper portion is free for this purpose as the enginewill inevitably project in the region of this portion; in no case areall the above-mentioned regions free simultaneously. Therefore, theconventional vehicles can carry and use only relatively few tools eitherseparately or in limited combinations, such as ploughing, hoeing,furrowing, sowing, grubbing, transplanting and grit-spreading machines,containers or truck bodies and the like.

On the other hand, the vehicle forming the object of the presentinvention can carry working tools and equipment over the entire upperplatform from one end to the other except for the smali corner portionwhere the drivers seat is located. Moreover, such tool and equipment canbe attached to both ends as well as the sides and the lower centralportion of the longitudinal beams. In the latter portion the workingtools may be fixed, by an ingenious method, to the main longitudinalbeams by two further smaller longitudinal beams located above the formerones and clamping'the tools thereon by engagement of the tools withteeth provided on the lower surfaces of the smaller longitudinal beams.The smaller longitudinal beams may be tiltable and actuated by hydraulicrams. Two lateral rods may be provided on the sides of the smallerlongitudinal beams to lift the tools secured thereto into an inoperativeposition.

The main longitudinal beams may further be extendable at their ends bytelescope beams to permit their length to be further increased andprovide further possibilities for attachment of additional tools.

The upper portion of the vehicle, in addition to carrying a fixed ortiltable platform for securing tools or loading material, may also servefor mounting an additional engine for driving the tools: A splined shaftprovided with pulleys may be used to transmit movement to the workingtools and such shaft may extend longitudinally along one of thelongitudinal beams or transversely thereof and may be carried thereby soas to receive motive power from the gearbox and the differential axleassembly of the engine of the vehicle or from the additional engine.

Thus, together with an appropriate adaptation of the direction ofrunning and driving and, if necessary, of the motor power, a multiple oruniversal range of application is obtained, which helps enormously tosave expenses, not only because there is no further need to procureseveral driving machines, but also because the proposed vehicle cancarry out alone all work which of necessityor for reasons of economymust be done simultaneously or in immediate succession.

Such considerations are of particular importance in small agriculturaland industrial enterprises.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way ofexample and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

PEG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a selfpropelledtool-carrying vehicle according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic detail view, showing the attachment ofa working tool; and

FIG. 4 is a section on lines IV-IV of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. ll, an engine 1 with opposed cylinders is arrangedbetween and below two longitudinal beams 2 and connected with aspeed-change and reverse gear 3 and a differential gear 4 mounted on anaxle assembly which also carries a hydraulic jack 5 for actuating theassociated lifting arms 6. The gear 3 and differential gear 4 have-apower takeoff 7 and 8, respectively.

Two other smaller longitudinal beams 9 are mounted on the two mainlongitudinal beams 2 in the upper portion of the vehicle and may bepivotally connected to the main beams 2 at their rear ends 10, forexample, by means of a hinge 32. The lower surface of longitudinal beams9 is constructed as a rack 11 extending over the major portion of itslength and adapted to cooperate with the supporting attachments of theworking tools (not shown) when the beams 9 are lowered. The supportingattaclunent of a working tool is schematically indicated by numeral 35in FIGS. 3 and 4. Further, the beams 9 carry rods 12 on their lateralsurfaces to engage the supporting attachments of such tools for liftingthem when required.

Driving wheels are indicated by 13 and free wheels by 14. When thevehicle is of the type having four driving wheels, the wheels 14 arealso driving wheels. A drivers seat is indicated by 15 and can beshifted to the point indicated by 16 when the direction of driving isreversed. Numeral 17 indicates a steering wheel which when the directionof driving is'reversed can be tilted in the opposite direction into aposition indicated by 18 (see FIG. 1) by means of a hinge 19 mounted atthe neck of a supporting sleeve 2% provided with a cup-shaped upperportion. Numerals 21 and 22 indicate double sets of clutch, brake andaccelerator control pedals. Numeral 23 indicates telescope extensionsfor the supporting main longitudinal beams 2 to permit their lengths tobe increased, when necessary, for obtaining a greater length of theloading platform above the beams and increasing its surface or providingadditional possibilities for attachment of working tools.

Referring now to PK]. 2, a transmission shaft is vehicle above the beams2. by 24 and serves to impart movement to the working tools mounted onthe vehicle. THe transmission shaft 24 is rotatably and slidably mountedon supporting brackets 25 mounted laterally on one of the longitudinalbeams 2. On the other hand, the transmission shaft 24 may also belocated in a transverse position between and still supported by thelongitudinal beams 2. The transmission shaft 24 may be driven by one ofthe power takeoffs 7 or 8 (FIG. 1), as desired, for example by means ofa transmission chain 33 or 34, respectively, or possibly by anadditional engine mounted on the platform of the vehicle above the beam2. Numeral 26 indicates a hydraulic ram designed to lift the additionaltiltable longitudinal beams 9 (FIG. 1) by pressing against a centralpoint of a connecting bar 27 mounted transversely between the beams 9.Numeral 23 indicates a change speed lever, 29 a reverse gear lever, and30 a handbrake lever. Removable crosswise arranged bars 31 serve toconnect the the main longitudinal beams 2. It is believed clear how thenovel device operates. To summarize: The novel device is a vehicle onwhich tool implements can be mounted. To provide maximum freedom ofpositioning of the implements, no component of the device, except theoperators seat, projects upwardly of the upper surface of thelongitudinal beams 2 of which the frame is in part composed. Thesecondary beams Q, which are not as long as beamsi2, are eachsuperimposed on one of the latter. Tl-ie beams 9 have lower surfaceswhich are juxtaposed with the upper surfaces of the respective beams 2and provided with teeth 11 in the manner of a rack. Beams 9 arepivotably mounted at one end so that they can be tilted upwardly awayfrom and downwardly towards the respective beams 2. An implement to bereleasably secured to the vehicle is placed upon the beams 2 whereuponthe beams 9 are moved downwardly to clamp portions of the implementbetween the beams 2 and 9; the teeth 11 mesh with corresponding teeth onthe implement to guard against displacement of the latter.

In practice the details of construction may be different from what hasbeen described and illustrated without departing form the spirit orscope of the invention.

1 claim: 1. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle for agricultural andindustrial purposes, comprising frame means including a first pair oflongitudinal beams each having an upper surface, and a second pair oflongitudinal beams above said first pair and each having a lower surfacefacing the respective upper surface; a plurality of teeth on said lowersurfaces distributed lengthwise of said second pair of beams; drivemeans arranged between said longitudinal beams and downwardly of thegeneral plane of said frame means which is defined by said uppersurfaces; and operating means for raising and lower said second pair ofbeams with reference to said upper surface for enabling connection of aworking tool with said frame means by disposition of such tool on saidupper surfaces and subsequent clamping between said upper and lowersurfaces in meshing engagement of said teeth with corresponding teeth onsaid working tool so as to secure the latter against displacement.

2. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 1, saidfirst pair of beams having unobstructed sides and end portions forattachment of working tools.

3. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 1; furthercomprising a drivers seat mounted on said frame means in the region ofone corner thereof at one end of said frame means.

4. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 3, saidbeams of said second pair having end portions adjacent said one end ofsaid frame means; and further comprising mounting means pivotablymounting said end portions for displacement about a substantiallyhorizontal axis extending transversely to the elongation of said beams.

5. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 3, saidoperating means being a fluid-operated ram.

6. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 1; furthercomprising telescopic extensions at opposite ends of said first pair oflongitudinal beams.

7. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 1, saidsecond pair of beams being coextensive with a major longitudinal portionof the respective beams of said first pair.

1. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle for agricultural andindustrial purposes, comprising frame means including a first pair oflongitudinal beams each having an upper surface, and a second pair oflongitudinal beams above said first pair and each having a lower surfacefacing the respective upper surface; a plurality of teeth on said lowersurfaces distributed lengthwise of said second pair of beams; drivemeans arranged between said longitudinal beams and downwardly of thegeneral plane of said frame means which is defined by said uppersurfaces; and operating means for raising and lower said second pair ofbeams with reference to said upper surface for enabling connection of aworking tool with said frame means by disposition of such tool on saidupper surfaces and subsequent clamping between said upper and lowersurfaces in meshing engagement of said teeth with corresponding teeth onsaid working tool so as to secure the latter against displacement.
 2. Aself-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 1, said firstpair of beams having unobstructed sides and end portions for attachmentof working tools.
 3. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimedin claim 1; further comprising a driver''s seat mounted on said framemeans in the region of one corner thereof at one end of said framemeans.
 4. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 3,said beams of said second pair having end portions adjacent said one endof said frame means; and further comprising mounting means pivotablymounting said end portions for displacement about a substantiallyhorizontal axis extending transversely to the elongation of said beams.5. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 3, saidoperating means being a fluid-operated ram.
 6. A self-propelledtool-carrying vehicle as claimed in claim 1; further comprisingtelescopic extensions at opposite ends of said first pair oflongitudinal beams.
 7. A self-propelled tool-carrying vehicle as claimedin claim 1, said second pair of beams being coextensive with a majorlongitudinal portion of the respective beams of said first pair.